Geomechanical analysis with rigorous error estimates for a double-porosity reservoir model

A model of random polycrystals of porous laminates is introduced to provide a means for studying geomechanical properties of double-porosity reservoirs having one class of possible microstructures. Calculations on the resulting earth reservoir model can proceed semi-analytically for studies of either the poroelastic or transport coefficients, but the poroelastic coefficients are emphasized here. Rigorous bounds of the Hashin–Shtrikman type provide estimates of overall bulk and shear moduli, and thereby also provide rigorous error estimates for geomechanical constants obtained from up-scaling based on a self-consistent effective medium method. The influence of hidden (or presumed unknown) microstructure on the final results can then be evaluated quantitatively. Detailed descriptions of the use of the model and some numerical examples showing typical results for the double-porosity poroelastic coefficients for the type of heterogeneous reservoir being considered are presented. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.